Systems and methods for rehabilitating, repairing, and replacing manholes and connected sewer lines

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a method for rehabilitating, repairing, and replacing manholes and connected sewer lines. In some embodiments, a compressed liner is inserted through the manhole access hole or the connected sewer lines. Prior to insertion, the liner may be cut and/or folded to be compressed to a size that can fit through the manhole opening or the sewer lines. Once inserted in the manhole or sewer lines, the liner should be expanded, and if necessary, bonded together with a resin along the separation line. Next, a bonding material may be injected between the liner and a surface of the manhole or sewer line to seal any cracks or fissures in the brick or concrete wall and to seal the liner against the existing manhole or sewer line to improve structural integrity and longevity. A new corbel may then be installed and bonded to the liner.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to and is a continuation application ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/369,261 that was filed on Mar. 29,2019.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a method for rehabilitating,repairing, and replacing the tunnels or passageways that make up thesewer system, and more specifically, to reinforcing the concrete orbrick walls that make up the manholes and corresponding sewer systems byinserting a liner and treating the surfaces of the manhole to protectthe sewer system from further deterioration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Deteriorating sewer systems is a significant problem in the UnitedStates and other countries across the globe. And the problem worsens asthe sewer lines age and deteriorate. These sewer systems were originallybuilt with brick and/or concrete walls and foundations that defined thesewer lines and manholes. Pipes may have been included for the sewerlines that connect the manholes throughout the sewer system. As thesewer systems age, the brick and concrete walls and foundations expand,compress, crack, and adjust, which creates holes and crevasses wherewater can enter, leak, or flow. Additionally, these adjustments in thewalls and foundations can crack or break the pipes that make up thesewer lines. Gases and chemicals released from the sewage travelingtherein can speed up this aging and deterioration process.

These deteriorating sewer systems create various problems for the citiesand municipalities that are responsible for the upkeep of the sewersystems. Cities, municipalities, and utility companies are responsiblefor paying for sewer water to be processed and treated by a localtreatment facility. And if a sanitary sewer system (sewers and stormdrains are not combined) was installed, the costs of the treatment andprocessing of water can explode if storm water is infiltrating the sewersystem because the city or municipality must pay for this additionalwater to be processed. Many cities built sanitary sewer systems andstorm drains to funnel and direct storm water or water from a leak tothe correct location because if it's not, the city has to pay for thatwater to be treated. Further, the cracking of the brick or concrete ofthe manholes and connected sewer lines leads to additional water seepingthrough the walls of the manholes and connected sewer lines, which leadsto additional treatment costs.

These problems can also lead to flooding or overflow as the storm waterbacks up in the sewer system and fails to flow to the proper locationfor relief (i.e., storm drains). During this type of flooding, it can bedifficult to funnel the water where it needs to go, and the manholesbecome impossible to access for relief or repairs. Sewage may back upinto the streets of the city or municipality before the water can betreated. This can lead to an unfortunate situation where the storm wateris mixed with sewage, which can lead to EPA problems, health concerns,and undesired smells.

The maintenance requirements vary with the type of sewer systeminvolved, but all sewer systems deteriorate with age. The type of sewersystem may also indicate a different level of maintenance required.Combined sewers and storm drains may require less maintenance, since theoriginal water system was designed to carry both types of water,although sanitary sewer systems require additional maintenance due tothe concerns mentioned above. Prior methods of preventing the flow orentrance of water into the sewer system may include directly fixing thecracks or fissures in the brick or concrete walls and repairing orreplacing any damaged pipes or liners.

In the past, when sanitary sewer pipes or manholes cracked orexperienced damages, the only option was an expensive excavation,removal, and replacement of the damaged pipe or manhole. This processtypically required street repairs afterwards. Then a method was createdto apply and coat a cement mixture to the sewer pipe or manhole, whichwas designed to seal the cracks and breaks in the pipe or manhole. Otherprior methods include using a resin to re-line aged or damaged pipes andmanholes. Another method of repair is called pipe bursting, wherein anew pipe is drawn through the old pipe behind an expander head thatbreaks apart the old pipe as the new one is drawn in behind. However,these methods may not be sufficient to improve the leaks, holes, andcrevasses in the walls of the sewer lines and corresponding manholes.Aside from total replacement, these conventional repair methods are nota long-term fix. A cost-effective method to repair, refurbish, and/orreplace the pipes and manholes of sewer systems is required.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a method for repairing, refurbishing,and/or replacing the pipes, tunnels, and corresponding manholes of asewer system. The claimed method is designed to address the problemswith aging and deteriorating sewer systems with an efficient solutionthat is superior and less expensive than prior methods.

In some embodiments, the initial step may include removing the existingcorbel, including any prior liners that were located in the manhole. Acompressed liner that will expand to fit in the manhole is insertedthrough an access hole or the connected sewer lines. Prior to insertion,the liner may be measured to fit properly in the manhole when expandedand then cut and/or folded to be compressed to a size that can fitthrough the manhole ring or the sewer lines. Once inserted in themanhole, the liner should be expanded and bonded together with a resinalong the separation line to the desired fit. Apertures or holes can bemade in the liner to account for sewer lines or inverts that need topass water or sewage into the manhole or connected sewer lines. Thisbonding step may be unnecessary if the liner was compressed throughother means (i.e., manipulation, folding, molding). Next, a bondingmaterial is injected between the liner and the manhole surface to sealany cracks or fissures in the brick or concrete walls and to seal theliner against the existing manhole. A new corbel is then installed andbonded to the liner and concrete is poured over the corbel to grade. Thenew corbel can be bonded to the top of the liner. When expanded, theliner may have a larger internal volume than the compressed liner. Thisprocess may be used to repair or refurbish pipes or tunnels that make upthe sewer lines.

In some embodiments, the bonding material may be applied to the manholeor sewer line surfaces initially to repair any cracks or fissures in thebrick or concrete walls. Then the compressed liner is inserted into themanhole through the open top of the manhole or the open access for sewerlines. Once inserted, the liner is expanded and bonded together with aresin along the separation line. The expanded liner connects to thebonding material to seal the liner against the existing manhole or sewerlines and provides significant structural strength. A new corbel maythen be installed and bonded to the liner.

A corbel liner may be applied to a manhole or sewer system in a similarfashion. A compressed corbel liner that will expand in the manhole isinserted through the open top of the manhole or connected sewer lines.Prior to insertion, the liner may be measured to fit properly in themanhole when expanded and cut and/or folded to be compressed to a sizethat can fit through the manhole ring or the sewer lines. Once insertedin the manhole, the liner should be expanded and bonded together with aresin along the separation line if necessary. A bonding material isinjected between the liner and the old manhole to seal any cracks orfissures in the brick or concrete walls and to seal the liner againstthe existing manhole. When expanded, the corbel liner may have a largerinternal volume than the compressed corbel liner.

In some embodiments, ports in the liner can be used to apply the bondingmaterial between the liner and the surface of the manhole or sewer line.Apertures or holes can also be made in the liner to account for sewerlines or inverts that need to pass water or sewage into the manhole orconnected sewer line. A container may also be used to deliver thecompressed liner to the manhole or connected sewer line. Morespecifically, the compressed liner fits into the container for improvedtransportation through the manhole or the connected sewer lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference isnow made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section view of a manhole and a connected sewersystem;

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a manhole that was made of brick;

FIG. 3 shows a top view of a manhole that was made of concrete;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section view of manhole and a connected sewersystem that is being treated by conventional methods;

FIG. 5 shows a liner for a manhole including a cylindrical portion and acorbel portion;

FIG. 6 shows a liner for a manhole including a cylindrical portionaccording to some embodiments of the claimed invention;

FIG. 7 shows a method for repairing and refurbishing a sewer systemaccording to some embodiments of the claimed invention;

FIG. 8 shows an alternative method for repairing and refurbishing amanhole according to some embodiments of the claimed invention;

FIG. 9 shows a cross-section view of a repaired and refurbished manholeaccording to some embodiments of the claimed invention;

FIG. 10 shows a method for repairing and refurbishing a manholeaccording to some embodiments of the claimed invention;

FIG. 11 shows a method for cutting or dividing a liner according to someembodiments of the claimed invention;

FIG. 12 shows a method for transporting a compressed liner according tosome embodiments of the claimed invention;

FIG. 13 shows an alternative method for cutting or dividing a lineraccording to some embodiments of the claimed invention; and

FIG. 14 shows a method for repairing and refurbishing a manholeaccording to some embodiments of the claimed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As mentioned above, a new method for repairing, refurbishing, andreplacing existing manholes that have been aging and deteriorating isneeded. The existing manholes and connected sewer systems are crumblingand cracking, which leads to high city and municipality costs for stormwater entering the sewer system and expensive repairs to damagedmanholes, lines, and pipes. A method that enables repair and replacementwithout expensive excavation and removal would be a vast improvementover the prior art. Further, a method is desired that would addstructural strength to the manhole, repair the cracks and fissures inthe walls, and create a water tight seal to prevent storm water fromentering the sewer system. While this application focuses on manholes,sewer lines, and collection systems, the present invention could be usedin other applications such as oil and gas delivery, chemicaltransportation, or water delivery.

FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a manhole and connected sewersystem 100. Manholes 100 are crucial because they enable workers toaccess the sewer system to make repairs or adjustments without having toexcavate or dig up the entire surface and area surrounding the sewersystem. A surface or road 6 lays on top of the manhole 100. Whennecessary, a worker can access the manhole 100 through a manhole cover 2that covers an entrance to the manhole 100. When the manhole cover 2 isremoved, the worker may access the portion of the manhole 10 that isbelow the surface or road 6. This area may be called the manhole accessarea and in some embodiments this area may be more open after removal ofthe corbel. As shown in FIG. 1, a diameter of the manhole cover 2 issmaller than a diameter of the internal manhole 100. A corbel 8 is asection of the manhole 100 that defines a transition from this smallerdiameter to a larger diameter and provides support for the upper sectionof the manhole 100. A manhole ring 4 outlines the access point for themanhole 100 and provides support for the manhole cover 2. A reduceddiameter lip 26 prevents the manhole cover 2 from dropping into theinterior of the manhole 100. The manhole 100 of FIG. 1 is shown withbrick walls, but concrete walls may also support and outline the manhole100.

A diameter of the interior section of the manhole 10 is larger than thediameter of the manhole ring 4. This larger space enables a worker towork on or repair the manhole 100 below the surface or road 6. In somemanholes like the one shown in FIG. 1, an opening 22 may exist at thebottom of the manhole 100 for access to the connected sewer line. Afirst sewer line or pipe 18 may be supported or outlined by a concreteor brick wall 16. A concrete base 20 may further support the manhole 100and connected sewer system. Conventionally, a sewer system may havenumerous inverts and pipes to carry and deliver waste water fortreatment. A second sewer invert or pipe 14 may be supported or outlinedby a concrete or brick 12 wall. During operation, the second sewerinvert or pipe 14 may provide waste water for treatment to the firstsewer line or pipe 18 through the opening 22 in the manhole 100. Thenthe first sewer invert or pipe 18 can deliver the waste water to thelocation for processing and treatment. The size of sewer inverts, pipes,or tunnels 18 can vary widely, and in certain sewer systems the pipes ortunnels 18 are large enough for workers to move through.

In many sewer systems the cost for treatment of waste water iscalculated through a measurement in the pipes or tunnels that deliverthe waste water to the treatment facility. For many applications, asensor or sensor system is implanted in a primary invert, pipe, ortunnel leading to the treatment facility to measure the flow of water tothe waste treatment facility. Then the city or municipality iscontracted to pay a certain amount per volume of water to be treated atthe treatment facility. Because the city or municipality would like toavoid paying treatment costs for storm water or water from a leak, itmust prevent this water from entering the sewer system. Thus, a superiormethod for repairing, replacing, or refurbishing to prevent this leakageof storm water into the sewer system is desired.

FIG. 2 shows a top view of a conventional manhole 100 that is made ofbrick and FIG. 3 shows a top view of a conventional manhole 100 that ismade of concrete. In the views of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the manhole cover 2(not shown) is removed to show an internal view of the manhole 2. FIG. 2and FIG. 3 show the manhole ring 4 that outlines the access point forthe manhole 100 and provides support for the manhole cover 2. Lookinginto the manhole 100 of FIG. 2, the brick shows a wall of a brickcovered corbel 52, and looking into the manhole 100 of FIG. 3, theconcrete shows a wall of a concrete corbel 54.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a manhole and connected sewersystem 100 that is being treated by conventional methods. As mentionedabove, the brick or concrete walls of aging manholes start to showcracks and deformations that can require repairs or refurbishment of themanhole. Conventional methods of repair have included applying acementitious mixture to the interior portion of the manhole to seal orfill in this cracks or deformations. In the manhole 100 of FIG. 4, aworker 402 has gained access to the lower portion of the manhole 10. Theworker 402 can access this area by removing the manhole cover 2 andentering the manhole 100 or by traveling through the sewer system in oneor more sewer pipes or tunnels 18. The worker 402 has a spray container404 and a spray hose 406 to apply a cementitious mixture to the walls ofthe manhole 100. After application by the worker 402, the cementitiousmixture will harden to create an additional layer to the manhole 100.However, this may not improve the foundational problems because thecracking and deformation of the brick or cement walls may continue. Thismethod also may fail to prevent water seepage into the sewer system.This is a temporary fix but not a great long-term solution.

FIG. 5 shows a liner with a cylindrical portion 500 and a corbel portion510 that may be used with some embodiments of the claimed invention. Aphysical liner that can be inserted into the manhole or connected sewerpipe or tunnel can assist with integrity problems. The claimed inventioncovers other shapes and sizes of manholes and corresponding liners thatwill expand to the surfaces or edges of the manholes. The cylindricalportion 500 of the liner has a top side 504 and a bottom side 502. Ifthis liner was used in the manhole 100 of FIG. 1, then the bottom side502 would match up with the opening 22 and the top side 504 would matchup with the corbel 8. An opening or aperture 506 may be added to theliner of FIG. 5 to accommodate a sewer line or pipe 12 (FIG. 1) onceinstalled. The corbel portion 510 also has a top side 514 and a bottomside 512. If the liner was used in the manhole 100 of FIG. 1, then thebottom side 512 would line up with and may be bonded to the top side 504of the cylindrical portion 500 and the top side 514 would line up withthe manhole ring 4 (FIG. 1). The corbel liner 510 may also have a flange524 that is used for mounting the corbel liner 510 to the corbel. Afterthe liner of FIG. 5 is inserted in manhole 100 and the cylindricalportion 500 and corbel portion 510 are bonded together, the liner shouldprovide an additional protective layer to the manhole and connectedsewer system 100. The liner in the claimed invention may be made ofvarious materials, but fiberglass or other plastic alternatives may beused in some embodiments. While FIG. 5 shows a cylindrical portion 500of the liner, shapes such as a rectangular liner could be used if themanhole was designed with that shape.

With this basic understanding, the claimed invention focuses on a methodfor repairing or refurbishing aging manholes and connected sewersystems. This method may also be used to create or finish installationof manholes and connected sewer systems. Initially, the existing corbelof an aging manhole may be exposed and removed. This may involveexcavating the surface or area around the corbel for access to thecorbel. The manhole and connected sewer system that will be prepared maybe pressure washed at this time. Then the cylindrical portion of theliner is inserted in the manhole. In some embodiments, this liner may becut, divided, or compressed so that the liner can fit into the desiredarea of the manhole through the manhole access hole by way of the roador by way of the sewer pipes or tunnels. The liner shall then beexpanded to align with and be adjacent to the features of the manhole.In some embodiments, this may include sealing or bonding the dividedportions of the liner to achieve this expansion of the liner.

After the liner is expanded and in place within the manhole, a polymericbonding elastomer may be injected between the liner and the manhole wallto bond the liner to the walls of the manhole. This injection may bedone through ports in the liner or by injection through the top orbottom of the liner to create the bond between the liner and the wallsof the manhole. Then the new corbel can be installed and bonded to thetop of the cylindrical portion of the liner. This corbel may be new orthe prior corbel may be reused. This process may include inserting acorbel portion of the liner, which is then bonded to the cylindricalportion of the liner. Installation of the new corbel may be inaccordance with the manufacturer's recommendations for required loadratings. Lastly, concrete can be poured over the new corbel to grade andensure that the surface or road is repaired and flat. Sewer lines may betreated in the same manner.

In some embodiments, the polymeric bonding elastomer may be applied tothe manhole wall before the liner is installed and expanded. Theexpanded liner will then begin to bond with the manhole wall afterexpansion. If the liner was cut or divided before insertion in themanhole, then the worker or user can bond the divided portions of theliner together. The polymeric bonding elastomer may be AV-200/CR FlexPolyurethane or other similar material. This specific material has anaverage bond strength of 240-290 psi. Other bonding materials are withinthe scope of the present invention. In conventional methods, the linercouldn't expand to the surface of the manhole or the connected sewerlines and tunnels, so there was a space between the liner and thesurface that needed to be filled. This space could be from 6 inches tolarger distances. Conventional methods filled this space with concrete,but that did not foster the improved bonding and support that aliner/bonding elastomer combination does. Thus, the use of the bondingmaterial and the reduced space between the liner and the surface providesignificant improvements over the prior art.

FIG. 6 shows a compressed liner for a manhole including a cylindricalportion 600. In this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 600 islaterally compressed. The cylindrical portion 600 has been cut ordivided down a first edge 616 and a second edge 618. Similar to FIG. 5,the top side 604 of the cylindrical portion 600 aligns with the corbel,while the bottom side 602 would align with the opening 22 (not shown) atthe bottom of the manhole 100. By making this cut down the length of thecylindrical portion 600, the diameter or width of the liner decreasessignificantly. The interior volume of the compressed cylindrical portion600 is smaller than the interior volume of the expanded liner 500. Thiswill allow the cylindrical portion 600 to fit downward through theexposed corbel section or upward through the sewer pipes or tunnels. Insome embodiments, the corbel will be exposed and removed to leave anopen section in the manhole. An opening or aperture 606 may be added tothe liner of FIG. 6 to accommodate a sewer line, invert, or pipe 12(FIG. 1) once installed. The liner in the claimed invention may be madeof various materials, but fiberglass or other plastic alternatives maybe used in some embodiments. The cylindrical portion 600 may also becompressed by cutting the liner into multiple portions. For example, twocuts down the length of the liner 600 would create two portions thatcould be compressed and then bonded within the manhole or sewer system.FIGS. 11 and 13 show how a worker may cut or divide this liner 600 forcompression where FIG. 13 shows how a worker may cut the liner 600 intotwo portions. Folding or manipulation may also be used to compress theliner. In other embodiments, a corbel liner may be cut and compressed insimilar fashion to the cylindrical liner. Due to the shape of thecorbel, it may be difficult to make a single cut to compress the corbelliner, so multiple cuts may be required. Folding or manipulation may beused to compress the corbel liner as well.

FIG. 7 shows a method for repairing and refurbishing a sewer system bytransporting the compressed liner through the sewer pipes or tunnels andFIG. 8 shows an alternative method for repairing and refurbishing amanhole by transporting the compressed liner downward through themanhole access cover or removed corbel section. In this embodiment, theliner is laterally compressed. The compressed cylindrical portion 600 isshown in both FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 7, the compressed cylindricalportion 600 is rolled, carried, or slid through the sewer pipe or tunneluntil it reaches the desired area of the sewer line. Once there, it canbe expanded to fit snugly against the walls of the sewer line, pipe, ortunnel. The bottom side 602 fits against the walls of the sewer pipe ortunnel further away from the manhole and the top side 604 fits againstthe walls of the sewer pipe near the opening of the manhole. In FIG. 8,the compressed cylindrical portion 600 is inserted into the desiredmanhole 100 where it can be expanded to fit snugly against the manholewall. The bottom side 602 fits against the opening to the sewer pipe ortunnel and the top side 604 fits against the existing or new corbel (notshown). An opening or aperture 606 on the liner may accommodate a sewerinvert or pipe 12 once installed. The liner 600 may not be drawn toscale in FIGS. 7 and 8, but when expanded these liners 600 should beadjacent to the surface of the manhole or sewer line. In someembodiments, the manhole and connected sewer system are pressure washedand evaluated before the liner is inserted. If there are any areas(bricks or concrete extending or protruding) in the manhole that wouldrestrict or puncture the liner, then those areas may be prepared beforethe liner is dropped in the manhole. Insertion of a compressed corbelliner is not shown in FIG. 8, but this method is within the scope of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 shows a cross-section view of a repaired and refurbished manhole900 according to some embodiments of the claimed invention. In thisembodiment, a corbel portion 910 is shown on top of a cylindricalportion 920. The bottom side 902 of the cylindrical portion 920 lines upwith the bottom of the manhole 100 and the top side 914 of the corbelportion 910 lines up with the manhole access cover (not shown). The topside 904 of the cylindrical portion 920 may be bonded to the bottom side912 of the corbel portion 910. An opening or aperture 906 on thecylindrical portion 910 may accommodate a sewer line, invert, or pipeonce installed. FIG. 9 also includes an exploded view of a cross sectionof the manhole 900. In this exploded view, the existing concrete manhole930 exists outside of a liner 936 for the cylindrical portion 920 or thecorbel portion 910. The liner 936 may be made of a fiberglass or otherplastic material. The concrete 930 provides the wall for the manhole900, but cracks or spaldings 932 begin to show in an aging manhole. Asdiscussed above, an elastomeric bonding material 934 may be appliedbetween the liner 936 and the concrete wall 930 to fill in or plug thesecracks or spaldings 932. In some embodiments, the elastomeric bondingmaterial 934 is applied before the liner 936 expands to the concretewall 930, and in other embodiments, the elastomeric bonding material 934is applied after the liner 936 expands to the concrete wall 930. In someembodiments, a void may be created between the liner 936 and theconcrete 930 such that concrete or another bonding material may beapplied to this void for a better fit between the liner 936 and theconcrete 930.

The claimed invention offers numerous advantages over prior art methodsof repairing, refurbishing, and replacing existing manholes. This methodprovides water tight seals and prevents leaks in the existing manholewall, which should prevent water from flowing to unintended locations.Cracks and voids within the original manhole should be sealed as thematerial is injected. The inserted liner and bonding material injectedinto the brick or cement manhole adds structural strength in both thevertical and horizontal directions. The outward pressure on expansionand the improved bonding between the bonding material and linersignificantly improve the structural strength. The bonding materialfurther prevents chemical deterioration to the cement materials andallows for movement or shifting of the wall. This bonding materialshould not be affected by waste water and/or gases produced by thesewage, which should assist at protecting the brick and cement wall ofthe manhole and connected sewer lines as time passes. In someembodiments, the flexible liner allows for movement or shifting of thewall without breaking or cracking.

Further, cost advantages will be realized by the city or municipalitythat adopts the claimed method. Infiltration of water, dirt, and debrisin the repaired manhole and sewer pipes will be reduced or eliminated,which reduces or eliminates sewage overflow. Waste water treatment costswill be reduced because the storm water will not seep into the sewagelines forcing the city or municipality to pay for the treatment of stormwater or water from a leak. Solid waste disposal costs may also bereduced because any soil or sand that would be carried into the systemby infiltration should be reduced. The claimed method should also reducesoil seepage caused by infiltration in the manhole and surrounding wall.Further, the claimed method can be accomplished during normal operationof the sewage system without the need for expensive excavation.

The claimed process may improve the life span of the manhole andcorresponding sewer lines, thus requiring less repair and replacement inthe future. The liner, which may consist of fiberglass or other plasticmaterial, in combination with the elastomeric bonding material, providesa more flexible material that reduces cracks and spaldings in theconcrete wall. The claimed invention may lead to up to 50% savings inrepairing, refurbishing, and replacing aging manholes.

FIG. 10 shows a method for repairing or refurbishing a manhole 1000according to certain embodiments of the claimed invention. The surfaceor road 1006 leads to a manhole ring 1004 and a manhole cover 1002 thatcan be removed to access the manhole 1000 below. In FIG. 10, a worker1020 has gained access to the lower portion of the manhole 1000. Theworker 1020 can access this area by removing the manhole cover 1002 andentering the manhole 1000 or by traveling through the sewer system inone or more sewer pipes or tunnels 1018. An opening 1022 at the bottomof the manhole 1000 connects to a sewer pipe or tunnel 1018, which isoutlined by a concrete wall or pipe 1016. An invert or pipe 1014 andcorresponding concrete wall or pipe 1012 is connected to the manhole.The worker 1020 has a spray container 1024 and a hose 1026 to apply amixture to the walls of the manhole 1000. In some embodiments, themixture may be an elastomeric bonding material. The spray container 1024may also be outside of the manhole 1000 and connected to a hose 1026.The spray container 1024 may also consist of two containers that mix thematerials before it is applied to the manhole. An expanded cylindricalportion 600 (FIG. 6) abuts the concrete wall of the manhole 1000. Inthis embodiment, the liner 600 has already been expanded and the twosides have been bonded together and the elastomeric bonding materialmust be applied to improve the structural integrity of the wall and bondthe liner thereto. In contrast to FIG. 4, an expanded liner is adjacentto the manhole or sewer line wall in FIG. 10.

To apply the elastomeric bonding material, ports 1052, 1054, 1056, 1058are created or drilled in the liners 600, 610 (corbel liner). A corbelliner 610 is also shown in FIG. 10. This may be done before or afterinsertion and expansion of the liners 600, 610. The worker 1020 can thenuse the hose 1026 to apply the elastomeric bonding material in betweenthe concrete wall and the liners 600, 610. The elastomeric bondingmaterial will fill the voids in the wall and voids between the liner andthe wall until it spills back out of the port 1052, 1054, 1056, 1058. Atthis point, the worker 1020 can seal that port 1052, 1054, 1056, 1058and move to the next port to apply the elastomeric bonding material.Once the material has been applied to all the ports, the liner 600, 610will be bonded to the concrete wall and the manhole will be repaired andrefurbished after the bonding material dries and sets. FIG. 14 shows thesame repairing or refurbishing method for a manhole 1400 with a liner1102 that has been divided or cut into two portions.

FIG. 11 shows a method 1100 for cutting or dividing a liner 1102according to some embodiments of the claimed invention. In FIG. 11, asaw 1104 is set up on a horizontal surface for cutting or dividing theliner 1102. In this figure, the liner 1102 is the cylindrical portion,but the corbel portion can also be cut or divided in this fashion. In anexploded view, the saw blade 1110 is shown cutting through the liner1102 to create a first edge 1106 and a second edge 1108. In someembodiments, the cut between the first edge 1106 and the second edge1108 may be a 10° to 90° cut. A 90° cut will provide less surface areafor bonding the first edge 1106 to the second edge 1108 than a 10° cut.Thus, in some embodiments a lower degree cut may provide additionalsurface area for bonding the first edge 1106 to the second edge 1108,which may lead to a stronger bond when the liner 1102 is expanded andreattached. The claimed invention covers other methods for dividing orcutting the liner, and in some embodiments, the liner is compressed whencreated. Folding or manipulation may also be used to compress the liner.FIG. 13 shows a method 1300 for cutting or dividing the liner 1102 intotwo portions according to some embodiments of the claimed invention.

FIG. 12 shows a method 1200 for transporting a compressed liner 1204according to some embodiments of the claimed invention. The liner may becut and compressed on site and can be compressed by using severalmethods. In FIG. 12, a compressed liner 1204 fits into a container orjig 1202 for transportation. The container or jig 1202 may have wheelsor rollers 1206 for making the container or jig 1202 easy to transport.The container or jig 1202 can also compress the liner 1204 to thedesired width or size. In FIG. 12, the container or jig 1202 is open onthe top and the front side, but other embodiments are within the scopeof this invention. With this type of container or jig 1202, thecompressed liner 1204 can be delivered to the manhole (not shown)through the manhole access cover or through the sewer pipes or tunnels.Delivery of the compressed liner 1204 to the manhole may improve withthis container or jig 1202. The container or jig 1202 can be varioussizes and shapes but should be adapted for the manhole or sewer pipe ortunnel that will be repaired for refurbished. In some embodiments, thecontainer or jig 1202 can be easily adjusted or sized based upon thedesired length, width, and depth required. A pulley system or othermeans may also be used to transport the liner 1204 and/or the containeror jig 1202 to the desired location.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, thescope of the present application is not intended to be limited to theparticular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositionof matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from thedisclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing orlater to be developed that perform substantially the same function orachieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodimentsdescribed herein may be utilized according to the present invention.Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within theirscope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of improving a liquid delivery systemcomprising the steps of: separating a liner structure into at least twoliner portions with at least two cuts down a length of the linerstructure, wherein said at least two liner portions each have a firstedge and second edge created by said at least two cuts; inserting saidat least two liner portions into said liquid delivery system;positioning said at least two liner portions to be adjacent to saidsurface of said liquid delivery system, wherein said at least two linerportions are bonded to said surface of said liquid delivery system; andbonding at least a first edge of said first liner portion to a secondedge of said second liner portion to reassemble said liner structure,wherein said first liner portion is adjacent to said second linerportion.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising bonding at least asecond edge of said first liner portion to a first edge of said secondliner portion to reassemble said liner structure.
 3. The method of claim1 wherein said positioning step is completed before said bonding step.4. The method of claim 1 wherein said bonding step to reassemble saidliner structure is completed before said positioning step.
 5. The methodof claim 1 wherein a bonding elastomer is used to bond said at least twoliner portions to said surface of said liquid delivery system.
 6. Themethod of claim 1 wherein a bonding elastomer is used in said bondingstep to bond said first liner portion to said second liner portion. 7.The method of claim 1 wherein said liner structure is configured to havea similar diameter to said surface of said liquid delivery system. 8.The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a bonding elastomer tosaid surface of said liquid delivery system before said positioningstep.